Inspecting the Inspectorate: Ofsted under scrutiny

Anastasia de Waal (ed.), November 2008

Today’s cheap, short and ‘sharp’ inspection is by definition restricted to a superficial one-size-fits-all snapshot of school provision. Ofsted’s tick-box criteria, drop-in mentality and frequently poorly-trained inspectors prevent the inspectorate from truly gauging the quality of schools. This collection of essays by educational insiders, including a practising Ofsted inspector, sets out the weaknesses in the current school inspection regime – and the changes urgently required if Ofsted is to contribute to raising educational standards.

“I don’t like having to agree… but Civitas is absolutely right.”Chris Woodhead